laurenashley321

...or trying to!!

ok...i read the faq. it says dont buy a full suspension bike for under $1000, i know. but my boyfriend wants one bc he is light and likes to do non-beginner trails (though he hasnt been riding long), and says hardtails make his back tire bounce off and lose traction too much. so should he just not ride til he can afford a $1000 bike? i want to get him a used one for his birthday (and though id love to spend $1000 on him...id rather EAT this month ...)

...any advice, suggestions, ideas, HELP?! thanks!

by the way, the last bike he had was a walmart full suspension... things broke, he fixed them, babied it, and it was ok (sort of). then it got stolen. so here i am. help!

ed 

How much $$$?

JoeyMac

there need to be more girlfriends like you. In fact, will you be my girlfriend and buy me bikes?

laurenashley321

im flexible...im wanting to know what the cheapest i can get away with would be....under $500?

laurenashley321

haha....well i havent bought it yet!! im starting to think yall are going to say i should get him something else...

EthanYQX

The best full suspension bike on the market is likely used and on Craigslist and was worth 1000 two years ago.

laurenashley321

ive been keeping my eye on craigslist for awhile now...hoping to find one! if anyone knows any other good places to find used bikes, let me know! thanks!

EthanYQX

You could always check Fleabay, but I don't trust that much. If you've got experience with it go ahead.

laurenashley321

yeah true, thanks. if i find anything ill post it here first, i dont know much about different models and stuff, though im learning!

EthanYQX

Most of us are willing to help you out, if you get a bad response or one that's blatantly not true don't worry about it

laurenashley321

thanks i think ill go to a local bike shop tonight and see what they have to say about finding used bikes around here.

redmonster

You can also try classifieds.mtbr.com or ridemonkey.com/classifieds

EthanYQX

Failing that, one of the Ironhorse rigs will suffice. You even get disc brakes.

junkyard

Sounds pretty demanding for a guy getting a gift from his girlfriend. If you're looking at $500 and under, I'm going to suggest a hardtail. If he's that adamant against it, give him the cash to supplement his purchase of a full suspension.

laurenashley321

thanks! ill definitely check out those sites.

do you mean getting a new iron horse, but just a lower end one? what do you suggest?

Thrifty1

Try the local charity (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc) stores or Pawn shops. Sometimes people donate/pawn bicycles and other valuables as a matter of convenience due to moving or general lifestyle changes .....

laurenashley321

haha, he has NOOOOO idea i would even think of getting him a bike...ive just been sneakily trying to ask what he might get if he ever got another bike. lets put it this way - when i asked what i should get him, he suggested a lamp for his new apt...id just like to do a littttlllle better

he's gonna die if this ends up working out and i get him one. i just think itd be soooo fun to blow him away if i can somehow get one

mcoine

So, wait, there are girls out there who will date a guy with a walmart bike?

Was it green by any chance?

laurenashley321

haha...i dont remember the color...but it DID have a kickstand...which we soon found out was just UNHEARD of!!! after a few trips to the bike store...the walmart (or was it target?) bike provided many funny stories at least

BearSquirrel

Tell him he needs to train his legs to suck up the bumps.

laurenashley321

"Happy Birthday!!! Now train your legs to suck up the bumps!!!"

M_S

You can buy a decent cyclocross bike for under 1000 bucks. After he grows tired of that, he'll be happy to ride that fat tired hardtail

Just kidding.

A word of caution though: As nice as it might be to buy bikes for other people, a lot of selecting the right bike has to do with fit. Even if you know the size bike your BF needs, complicating matters are the differeng geometries between models/brands. A 20 inch Stumpjumper may not fit like a 20 inch Fuel.

Little Leo

I think a Spez RockHopper would be a pretty shwagin B-Day present

born2bahick

I'll sell you Chelboed's Full susser for $500.00. He's got it built up schweet!

mtnbiker66

Just wander into a bike shop with him one day and see how that goes. They can help you on size and things like that.